Throughout history there have been many tragic stories. Often we “cushion” the horror of some stories by not attaching people’s names. When we talk about war, we can say a “soldier died,” rather than saying “William Allen died.”
Most of us since grade school have had lessons about slavery. Seldom are slaves referred to by name. In Galesburg, when we think about and talk about slavery, we can attach a name. All of us should become familiar with the tragic story of Susan Richardson.
In 1842, Susan Richardson was a “house slave” of Andrew Borders. Borders lived in Randolph County, Illinois. When I first heard she was a slave in Illinois, my thought was that this must be a mistake. Slavery was something in the South, Illinois was a “free state.” Randolph County was in southern Illinois by St. Louis. It turns out there were areas in southern Illinois in the 1840’s where slavery was allowed, often making the claim the individuals were “indentured servants.”
Susan had three children, two younger children and an older son. The general belief is that the oldest son was actually the son of Borders.
Susan as a “house slave” had a disagreement with Border’s wife one day. Later Susan overhead Mrs. Borders telling her husband of the disagreement. He told his wife that he would beat Susan the next day for her “transgression” to teach a lesson.
In September of 1842, Susan along with another slave woman took Susan’s three children and went to the nearby farm owned by William Hayes. Hayes was known to be a strong abolitionist. He was the nephew of one of Galesburg’s founders, Sylvanus Ferris. Hayes helped the Richardson group get headed north.
Susan and her family made it to the farm of Knoxville Presbyterian minister, John Cross. It was there that they were caught by trackers and imprisoned in Knoxville. Abolitionists in Galesburg became aware of this event. When Borders came to take the Richardson family back, Abolitionists from Galesburg challenged him. The Galesburg group claimed he did not have proper paper work. After being blocked in his pursuit, Borders indicated he would return to Randolph County to get the paper work, then come back.
Susan and her family were released by the Knoxville sheriff on the promise they would not leave. Later in the Fall, Borders returned with trackers. They were able to capture the Richardson children. This was common method of trackers, capture the children and the parent would come to them.
Abolitionists from Galesburg heard what had happened and took Susan to Galesburg under disguise. She naturally wanted to go to her children. As horrible as it sounds, the Abolitionists tried to persuade her not to go back to her children. The Galesburg group explained that if she went back to Knoxville all of them would be taken back to Randolph County, and the tradition of slaveholders with runaway slaves was to immediately separate and sell off the children of captured slaves.
Susan Richardson had no good choice. If she went to her children, they would all be separated and all be slaves again. After much persuasion, Richardson made the painful choice to stay in Galesburg.
When Borders returned, the Galesburg Abolitionists were able to get Borders charged with “false imprisonment.” At trial, after bringing “homemade peach brandy” for the courtroom, the charges were dropped.
For their efforts to prevent Susan Richardson’s capture, two of Galesburg’s founders, George Washington Gale and Nehemiah West were indicted along with two others for violations of the Fugitive Slave Law. None of the four ever went to trial for the charges.
Richardson was never to see her three children again. She lived most of her life in Galesburg. She is recognized as one of the founders of the AME Church in Galesburg, and played an active role in Galesburg’s Underground Railroad. Late in life, she moved to Chicago. Upon her death in 1904, she was buried in Galesburg’s Hope Cemetery. Local resident, Owen Muelder led an effort to find her grave and have a marker placed at the grave over 100 years later.
For the full story of Susan Richardson, check out these resources:
Fighters for Freedom by Hermann R. Muelder
The Underground Railroad in Western Illinois by Owen W. Muelder
Escape Betwixt Two Suns by Carol Pirtle
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